ABOUT

ALEX ADAMS

University of Stirling

​Alex is a third year PhD student researching the ecosystem impacts of habitat engineering by reintroduced beavers, using audio recordings to characterise freshwater habitats and their associated ecological communities, focussing on birds, bats, and aquatic invertebrates. Outside of his research, Alex enjoys yoga, Star Trek, and jigsaw puzzles!

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ALICE TURNER

University of Stirling

Alice is in the final year of her PhD, researching the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on beavers, as well as the social dimensions of beaver reintroduction and management. When she’s not working, you can find Alice crafting, at a gig, or up a mountain with her Australian Kelpie, Finn!

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ARIANNA CHITI

University of Stirling

Now in the third year of her PhD, Ari studies the mating ecology of parasitoid wasps -- how their reproductive behaviours influence population dynamics and species interactions. When not in the lab or hammering R-code, Ari is outside stalking birds and bees with a camera, or lost in an illustration! 

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EMILY SIMPSON

University of Stirling

Emily is in the third year of her PhD studying the impact that dam engineering by beavers in Scotland and Finland has on carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, bird tagging, and knitting!

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JAMES MACARTHUR

University of the Highlands and Islands​

James is a final year PhD student, his research integrates both molecular and traditional techniques to investigate the impacts of the Eurasian beaver on fish communities and conservation priority mammals, with a particular interest on their interactions with migratory fish species. Aside from his PhD he enjoys guitar music, wildlife and staying active!

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RUTH WRIGHT

University of Stirling

Ruth is researching public awareness and perceptions of invasive non-native species for her PhD, looking at what we can learn from internet data sets like Google Trends. Ruth also does trampolining competitively and enjoys bouldering and parkour in her free time.

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ALEX MACKAY

NatureScot

​Alex is NatureScot’s Science and Evidence Leadership Programme Manager and has a BSc in Ecological Science from the University of Edinburgh (too long ago to admit). In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors as much as possible as well as chasing around after her two pesky Shetland ponies, cats, kids and husband, gardening and going to see musicals.